Baxter, Roberta  Sedimentary Rocks
Gr. 4–6     24 pp.     Child's

McCarthy, Cecilia Pinto  Metamorphic Rocks
Gr. 4–6     24 pp.     Child's

Watts, Pam  The Rock Cycle
Gr. 4–6     24 pp.     Child's

York, M. J.  Igneous Rocks
Gr. 4–6     24 pp.     Child's

Geology Rocks! series. These books present middle graders with basic information about rocks (in somewhat choppy texts); Cycle focuses mainly on processes, while the others include details on classification, chemistry, and examples of familiar sites such as the Grand Canyon. Photographs of rock samples and land formations clearly illustrate their important features, and helpful diagrams illustrate geological concepts. Reading list. Glos., ind.
Subjects: Earth Science; Rocks; Earth science—Geology

Baxter, Roberta  Seismology: Our Violent Earth
Middle school, high school     112 pp.      ABDO/Essential Library

History of Science series. This book traces the history of the field of seismology, examining the ideas about earth processes that developed over time to produce current theories within the field, and ending with contemporary challenges and predictions for the future. The sophisticated concepts are illustrated with diagrams, photographs, and sidebars that add case detail and profile key scientific contributors. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.
Subjects: Earth Science; Natural disasters—Volcanoes; Earth science—Geology; Natural disasters—Earthquakes

Chad, Jon  Volcanoes: Fire and Life
Gr. 4–6     122 pp.     Roaring Brook/First Second

Science Comics series. Color by Sophie Goldstein. In this graphic novel set during a future ice age, a child stumbles upon a book about volcanoes and uses her new knowledge to bring Earth's heat to her people. Although there are some holes in the frame story's logic, the science is impressive, as are the contrasting illustrations of a frozen, abandoned California and the dynamic volcanic processes of its past. Reading list. Glos.
Subjects: Earth Science; Cartoons and comics; Graphic novels; Natural disasters—Volcanoes

Chin, Jason  Grand Canyon
Gr. K–3, 4–6     56 pp.     Roaring Brook/Porter

Vacationing in the Grand Canyon provides a father and daughter — and readers — numerous opportunities to explore this national park's geology and ecology. Travel guide–like narration presents accurate scientific information, as do page perimeters filled with delicate sketches and diagrams. Detailed, scenic watercolors portraying actual sites cleverly feature selected objects through subtle die-cuts that transport the girl back to ancient geologic environments. Reading list. Bib.
Subjects: Earth Science; Natural history; National parks and reserves; Grand Canyon National Park (AZ); Earth science—Geology; Grand Canyon (AZ)

Guillain, Charlotte  The Street Beneath My Feet
Gr. K–3     24 pp.     Quarto

Illustrated by Yuval Zommer. Turn the sturdy pages of this large book from bottom to top for an accordion-folded journey to the center of the Earth; now begin again from the end to head back up to the surface on the other side of the world. The earth science is simple but made glorious by the detail-packed illustrations, homely and fantastic at once.
Subjects: Earth Science; Toy and movable books; City and town life; Earth science—Geology; Astronomy—Earth

From the November 2017 issue of Nonfiction Notes from the Horn Book. All reviews are from The Horn Book Guide Online.